Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-07
pRESBYTERIANS.
FALL SESSION OF TIE PRgsBYrrRY
OF ROANOKE.
Large Attendance ducation-The Sab
ject Of Organic Union-An His
torical Sketch.


~ u n
A. Scott, J. A. McMurrsy, J. p. Gam
mon, John T.. Wool, l.. A. Mclean, 4.
s. Wilson, and j. G. Dinwiddie and
Ruling Elders r. Il. Daniel, of Bethle-
hem church George Hunt, of Buffalo
J. X. Hannah, of Concord; John A.
Shearer, OF Old Concord j. j. Wood,
Of New Concord II. NJ. Callahan, OF
Diamond Hill; William @. Friend, of
Dakes Branch DIR. II. p. Lacy, OF
Village church w. l.. Williams, of
Hat Creek A. G. Bruce, of Hermon
Robert S. Spencer, of Roanoke; John
A. Andrews, of Rough Creek, and V.
Il. Howard, of Rustburg. We had also
with us Rev. $. L. Martin, of Neck
lenburg Presbytery, agent of Union
Theological Seminary, for the purpose
Of raising an endorsement for fifth
professorship in the Seminary. Rev.
Mr.. Royal, of the Arpomattox Baptist
Association, was also present the first
day, and was invited TO a seat in the
presbytery as visiting brother"
Rev. j. Il. Cannon was chosen
moderator and showed great fitness for
the position. Rev. John II. Wool and
Rnling. Elder j. K. Hannah were made
clerks.
Report was made Of the organization
of a new church by the name of Elon,
near Scottsburg, with eighteen mem
beers, two ruling elders, and two dea-
cons. Leave was granted the congre-
cation to employ Rev. j. A. McMurray
as their stated supply once q month.
Mr.. Robert c. Anderson, Jr., was
taken under the care of the presbytery
as candidate for the ministry.
Rev. II. A. Brown and Ruling-Elder
DIR. II. p. Lacy were chosen commits
sioners to the next General Assembly,
with Rev. j. A. McMurray and Ruling
Elder Henry Easley as their alter
mates.
The matter of the education of the
five candidates for the ministry under
care Of the presbytery (all of whom will
need aid in prosecuting their theologi-
cal studies) elected n lively discussion
as to the ways and means Of securing
the necessary contributions from the
churches. 1t was
Rcsohed, That $3.50 be apportioned
among the churches of the presbytery,
TO be raised for this purpose and that
the pastors and sessions be urged, in
view of the large number of our candi-
dates, TO make earnest effort 10 raise the
full amount of the apportionment.
Rev II. A. Brown, from the Histori-
cal Committee, read an historical sketch
of the presbytery from its organization,
in April, 1859. Several changes in
boundary have occurred. 1t now en-
braces the counties Of Charlotte, Lu-
nenburg, Mecblcnburg, Halifax, Pitt
sylyania, Henry, and Patrick, and
about one half (more or less) of Frank
lin, Campbell, Appomattcx, and Prince
Edward. 1t has now Is ministers and
80 churches and nearly $500 members,
with the prospect of the organization
Immediately Of 3more churches. There
is also within its bounds and under its
care / colored tchurch of nearly 200
members, with its colored pastor, Rev.
Abel Davis. Since its organization the
presbytery has licensed II persons to
preach MS probationers for the minis
try has ordained fifteen to the full
work of the ministry, and has installed
pastors in tiity-tive instances. 1t has
also dissolved the pastoral relation be-
tween foTty-five churches and their
pastors. 1t has received nine licen-
tiates and twenty.seven ministers from
other presbytenes, and has dismissed
nine licentiates md thirty ministers
TO other presbyteries. 1t has lost by
death seven ministers-vi2., Rev. Viii
liam Hamersly, Rev. Henderson Lee,
Rev. John 4. Moore, Rev. >. B. VIII
son, ID. d., Rev. Robert y. Anderson,
Rev. Isaac Cochran, and Rev. NJ. W.
jackson. Mr.. Moore's death occurred
but three years after he entered the
ministry, but the other six lived TO an
age averaging about four-score years.
Three of them were over eighty, ave-
raging eighty-four years. The presby-
terry has also lost two very promising
licentiates-Mr. Isaac V. Scott and Mr..
Samuel Il. Booker. Both died a few
months after their hcensure, after
having given proof OF eminent quaEh
cations for usefulness. They were Ii
ceHsed on the same day.
The presbytery's Committee Of Pub
LEGATION was instructed to take steps for
the furtherance OF the colportage work
of the assembly's committee-for the
wider circulation of the excellent reli-
gious literature issued by the Presby-
terrain Publishing House in Richmond.
Chatham was chosen as the place for
the next stated meeting, in April, at
which time another Sabbath-SchoolCon-
vention is TO be held Rev. Alexander
Martin, ID. D., the chairman OF the
presbytery's Sabbath-School Commit
tee, was appointed superintendent of
Sabbath Schools" and to him is in
trusted the work of preparing the pro-
gramme for the convention.
1t having been reported that a recent
protracted meeting at Meadsville,
Emission OF the Oak-Level church,
in charge of Rev. Il. S. Wilson, had
resulted in numerous conversions, and
that house of worship had been pur-
chased and relitted, committee was
appointed, consisting of Rev. Messrs.
j. VI. Davis, j. A. McMurray. and
Il. S. Wilson, and Ruling Elders Henry
Easley and Thomas +. Barksdale, to
organize a church at that point on the
fourth Sunday of this month.
Ii was resolved that, in the judgment
of this presbytery, union with the
Northern Presbyterian Church is both
iDexpedient and undesirable, and that
the further agitation of the question
will tend only TO the disturbance of
the peace and harmony OF our beloved
Zion.
The Committee on Missions was in
structed to apportion among the
churches OF the presbytery the sum OF
$500 as the proportionate amount fall
ing TO this preslytery 10 raise at the
next collection for sustentation.
II was ordered "that when any one
OF the churches of this presbytery EN-.
ploys stated supply it shall report the
fact to the presbytery and obtain lt'
approval.
At the request OF Rev. j. c. Din.
widdie, made at the spring meeting and
assented 10 at this meeting, though with
great reluctance on the part of the con
gregations whom he has for five year.
been serving so acceptably, the pas.
toral relation between himself and the
churches of Old Concord, New Con.
cord, and Concord was dissolved. Mr.
Dinwiddie received Derm;sSion 10 Ial,o,